i used to have a carrera (another halfords bike!) which i learnt to jump on and did light dh and so on. it was a good bike to lean on. but i broke the mech, the front brake, 1 rear rim, and i dunno what else. now ive got a santa cruz v-10:P that i got for £800
Hes Talking About the bars i think youd brobaly want somthing like a wing bar for extra suport with rigeds well it depends what stuff you do and how big you go
rigid is best with a steel frame and steel bars as steel flex's giving that extra bit of give and bends before it snaps. and yes i do know of people who have snapped their frames and bars running alu with rigid. is just doesn't happen that much as generally people aren't that stupid.